Mike: Thanks brother, that means a lot! Yeah I like Bryan's rasp too. I wish I could get it. I'm actually cleaner than what you heard which is why I smoke. Lame excuse and one I'm ashamed of. I stopped smoking years ago when I got horribly sick with pneumonia and when I was back to myself and healthy, when I tried to sing this really pretty thing came out vocally that just didn't fit my music. I tried everything I could to simulate my old voice...no dice. I had always carried my stale cigs around with me if I ever wanted one. Well, after I exhausted everything I said to my guys "the only thing I can think of is I've not smoked." So I grabbed a stale cig, went and had a smoke, got high off it because it had been a while, went back in to sing, and my voice was back. Strange but true. Been smoking ever since...stupid habit. I try not to abuse it..a few cigs a day.

John T: Thanks man...glad you liked the guitar and space. I wonder if it would have come out worse if I would have put more time into it. You how it goes when you're sort of pressured to do something. Sometimes less is more...sometimes more is over-kill. :)

Jon: Excellent post man. We always seem to be on the same page with things. I think though we are different stylistically, we're more alike than we know in other ways. Take the incredibly kind comments out of your post towards me (which I thank you deeply for...they mean a lot and I know you're not an easy sell compliment or power word wise...so that "awe" is well taken..ty!) and your post is even more of a reinforcement to my post 3. It sucks that we even have to go there at all. But, when someone is in need, I think we have to cut to the chase instead of answering questions in riddles. For example, there is one post on page 2 that isn't mine...see if you can find it.

It talks in riddles just like I mentioned to Bubba. As I read each line my answers were "huh? what? are you kidding me? what's that mean? how does this answer anything? I don't get it" and "wtf...you really ARE as clueless as I had always believed you are!" I'm sure you'll find it...it sticks out like a sore thumb with a blinking sign that says "I'm really just trying to make you think I know what I'm talking about...so to further confuse you, I'll talk in riddles and maybe you'll buy into it" Those are the answers I would get from people when I asked questions.

LOL @ Captain Cryptic...dude, I laughed so hard I snorted! I haven't done that since I was 10. Perfect name! Hahahahahaha! With the whole friends thing, you know as well as I do, we'd love to come away with a few at all times, but when you're on a forum where it seems to be a competition of the minds where we also have a lot of lurkers that may not take part because of the consequences of posting, you wind up making friends that you don't know you have...and of course, none of the good people should be punished or deprived because of those that make the "help business" an unpleasant one. Eventually people learn the truth and those that are problem children will be found out. When you see there are no replies to their posts (which I actually hope happens soon because it's the best punishment to show them no one cares and they have 0 credibility) then the community is taking care of its own. :)

Dave: Thanks man..I may have ruined it if I took more time. The HQ is a lot more clear...but it may show more flaws. LOL!! You know what else is good about the cover thing man? It's a no brainer for the most part. With originals, you're constantly checking every little thing because you either wrote the song or are writing it as you go along with the recording. With the cover tune, it's already written so you just play along and add a bit of yourself into it if you can. That alone takes away a lot of stress in my opinion. It's also really cool for testing out instrument ideas as well as different techniques. It's not like an original that may sit on your shelf because you can't quite finish it. The cover always gets done because the frame work is already provided...so it's awesome for reference like you mentioned as well as for other testing and lab work. That's really why I enjoy it so much. I have a whole slew of these things that I've done over the years. It's just so much easier to test things out this way in my opinion. :)

-Danny

Hi Danny, I'm late to the party I know but I just wanted to say that I always find your posts a great help. You are one of those on these forums that are happy to share some of your great knowledge on a subject but also humble enough to say when you don't know about something. Please don't ever stop posting what you do, I for one learn something just about every time.

Thanks to Trimph1 for the props earlier but I'd just like to say that while I like to think I know my way around Sonar pretty well and share what I know there, I'm not even on the same planet as Danny, Jamesyoyo, Tmidi and many others that regularly contribute their thoughts on the song forum and elsewhere when it comes to mixing and general audio knowledge.

That's what I love about this place, there's always someone with some great knowledge ready to plug the gaps in my own. Hopefully I'll continue to learn as they continue to post.

I learned a long while ago to filter out most of the noise...... I rarely bite anymore.

Danny,
  Nice job on "Run to you"  It sounds huge.  Nice version and better than the original in my opinion!   I used to do a ska/punk version of "Last dance for mary jane"  I would love to go back and track it just for fun.  Maybe I will ;)

I love the outro lead bro.   Maybe if more of the popular (shredder type) lead guitarists played with your tastes and melody I would have gotten more into being a lead player myself.   I was never impressed by people that would run the neck and pull off sweeps but it didn't sound musical.... it sounds technical.  This always turned me off when it came to lead work.  When I do lead it tends to be a little slower feely to avoid that.  What you do has a melody, a feel, and a flavor of it's own that adds to the song without standing in front of it, it's technically impressive as hell but it sounds great at the same time.  Nice job!

Karl: Better late than never brother! Thanks for the kind words. No worries, I won't abandon you or anyone else. Sometimes things just get to me...I'm only human. But we can't ever let those that upset us win because well, the good people that really enjoy what we do lose out and they always outweigh the not so good people.

Haha make no mistake, I'm far from a Sonar power user man. I use it like a big tape machine without any key bindings. Let's just say if you saw me work in it, you'd laugh at me. I know I'm totally missing the boat as far as commands and faster work flow goes. But I work fast enough and I'm content with how everything works...so it's all good.

Re the noise...I hear ya. I wish I had that "I'm rubber, your glue whatever you say bounces offa me and sticks to you" (lol) mentality...but unfortunately, it's a flaw in my character. I'm actually much better now believe it or not. I had to punish myself and keep in-doors. I'd go out, someone would look at me for over 5 seconds and well, I had to just say "you got an eye problem...do ya want one?" Then reality set in....here I am with long hair like a chic, a better butt than most of the chic's I know, baby face that doesn't show any beard stubble, how can I be upset at someone for trying to figure out if I'm a man or a woman? LOL!!!!! Silly me! :-Þ

Nah...seriously speaking, I just hate when people cop tudes. There's no reason for it. There's enough fighting in the world. The last thing in my mind when I sign on to a forum is to have to defend myself...however, I have no problems doing so if I need to. It's actually a good thing though because each time it happens, that's one less person I'll never offer a word of advice to for the rest of my days and I can concentrate on helping people that actually care about what I have to offer. :)

Chuck: Thanks man! I'd like to hear your version of Last Dance...that's a cool tune! I hear ya on the shred stuff. Believe it or not, I swear I actually feel the same way. The good thing about growing up in the 80's for me was there was some definite skill in those players. But it got to be more of a sport than a weapon. When it starts sounding like a dude running scales like he's practicing in his room without any feel, direction and the lack of a story line, well, I can appreciate some of the techniques that go on, but to me it sounds like mindless wankage. I do that from time to time...I admit it. But I always do my best to do something with melodic value. You know... a beginning, a middle, a climax and an end type solo. If it fits the song, I'll open up a bit. If it doesn't, I won't even think about it.

The other thing that I think you did good on by avoiding that technical stuff is, you can spend a lifetime honing your chops to do the shred thing. Seriously man....it can easily become a drug once you get into it. Then what happens is, you become this robot that can play some cool leads, but you become a one-trick-pony that also may struggle to write tunes. I used to know guys that were so sick with shred that they couldn't even play rhythm or write a single riff. They would just solo over backing tracks. They'd make you go "wow" but after 10 minutes, it's like..."ok, you play lead good dude...what else can you do?" That's one thing quite a few shredders lack that you don't....the ability to write a song...and write a song with a hook that people can relate to. If I had to choose between insane tech and writing good songs, of course I'd choose to have a bit of both...but if it were one of the other, good songs would win hands down for me. Thanks again brother. :)

-Danny

That was a killer version of "Run to You".It was perfect,it rocked way harder without being to much or taking away from the orignal song.The lead playing at the end was awsome,parts of it sounded kind of Richie Kotzen like.
I've learned alot reading Danny's posts.

Clearly a huge difference between the original and your version..and your version rocks!! This one has space all over it...great stuff!

Danny, I think I'm totally going to have to book you for one of those video mixing tutorials you do of one of my songs for my album in a good 6 months time when they are ready. Would be great to have a really nice mix that I can then learn from to bring all the others up to scratch. Will email you in the future to discuss!!

I paid Jim Roseberry to tell me what components to get to build a nice stable computer and it was money well spent. I'm all for utilising some of the services we can get off people here! We get loads of free information off you guys on these forums so it'd be good to put a little extra $$ back into the pockets of you all!

I love you and hate you Danny...... Love you for sharing your knowledge and the great posts you make. Hate you when you post something as good as "Run to you" 'cos it makes me realize how far I've got left to go.....

Steven: Thanks a lot! I know you don't post a whole lot on here, so it was really great to hear from you! Hahaha...funny you mention Kotzen...years ago, I got an offer to work with Mike Varney and that whole Shrapnel Records thing with all the guitar maniacs. I was really into Kotzen at that time when he played a lot more crazy stuff than he does now. He was way more neo-classical.

I was so hooked on guys like him, Jason Becker, Stephen Ross, Tony MacAlpine, Yngwie, Paul Gilbert. Looking back on those times though....it was one big head-ache for me because I was always so competitive with myself. I'd get to a good level and some new monster would come out on that label and I'd wanna hang myself because I couldn't do what they did. It was never about music for me during those times. It was more "guitar as a sport". Granted, I have no regrets about how I turned out...but I sure am glad I put the whole "olympic guitar acrobatics" thing to the side and learned how to write. :) Glad you liked the song and my posts....I appreciate that! Post more often and get involved with us...it's great to hear from you. :)

Matt: when you are ready brother, let me know and I'll hook you up. Quite a few good men coming out of the woodwork that I am having a blast working with. Some well noted and respected guys on this forum too which had no problems saying "ok, I do this stuff sort of good but I submit, what's wrong with me...fix me Danny!" Usually one vid is all it takes on an entire song and you just "get it" because in reality man, you're already there. You just need certain things pointed out to you, that's all. As soon as you see them and hear them with the differences included, this light bulb goes off in your head and it all makes sense.

The only way I can explain it other than when a nasty storm leaves your area and the clounds part would be...I used to have these long prayer sessions with God when I'd get depressed. Losing my mother really did something to me and I was in search of answers. One night I had a dream that I was sitting on my floor crying my eyes out. This voice came out of nowhere (and I knew it was Him) "one day, all the questions you ask will be answered. Stop worrying, you're not and never will be alone." From there I had the greatest dream about my mom that I'll never forget. It was so real to where it seemed like it was planted in me purposely.

My point in that is, when you see and hear this stuff being applied...."all your questions will be answered" too. You'll come away with that "ah, now I get it!" feeling. It's all right there in front of you really...it's just that at times, there are loads of things we talk about on forums to where no one bothers to show you examples of.

Or, you buy this book that shows you all this stuff and it's a good read....it talks about compression and all this stuff, yet never shows you how to do it or what to listen for on YOUR material. This is where something like this can really help. One quick story for you...this is actually pretty funny.

I was playing guitar and doing everything I could to learn as much as possible. There was this guitarist that sold video's named Doug Marx. The dude looked all cool...typical rock star, all the cool clothes, gear, everything. I had never heard him play, but heck, he looked cool so I bought the entire video lesson collection. Well, to my disappointment, he was horrible man. I'm talking so bad, I could cook the guy in my second year of playing and at this time, I'd been playing for about 10 years. However, this dude went through everything you could ever want in a lesson video. He talked about various amps, how to set them up, effects loops vs. direct in the amp, and most of all...effects.

He had this one vid (he also supplied audio cassettes of the video so you could listen on the road) that showed nothing but effects and when he got to compression, to this day it was the best representation of compression that I have ever experienced. He literally showed you what to listen for...how to tell when it's working even if you don't necessarily hear it, what he liked for fast comps and slower comps...that video itself was worth the entire price I paid and one of the only ones that made a difference in my life. He covered intonation, truss rod adjustments....pup wiring...so that stuff was cool too. But the compression thing....this is where people need to hear examples. Most guys don't even know how to use a compressor the right way because it's an effect that can be used in so many ways. They think "ok, if I don't hear it, it's not working" when in reality, the best compressor IS the one you don't hear working to an over-used extent.

This helps your mixes improve drastically in seconds because nothing is running amuck in your mix. Curbing eq's that are problematic allows for LESS compression to be used. You find out how all this stuff literally walks hand in hand. It's just amazing how little things like "ok this is what THIS sounds like and this is what THIS sounds like" can make an everlasting impression on what you do today as well as what you'll do tomorrow. So yeah man, when you're ready, send me a message and we'll talk. I think you'll get a lot out of this stuff. :)

Karl: LOL!! Thanks brother, feelings are mutual! You got that cool accent going on in your vids...I need that! People will take me a bit more seriously! Intead they get "yooo dude, dis is Danny D...tanks for givin me da chance to teach you a lil som-tin you baystid!" LOL! I've actually been trying to watch that. LOL! I can seriously turn a lesson into a comedy for some people...and SOME welcome it because the entertainment factor plus the learning thing keeps you on your toes. :) For others, I know they'd get offended...so I keep it a bit more proper and less "yooo dude!!" with the big tour hug. Hahahaha! You're too kind to me man...thanks.

Just remember man...someone like me has nothing else in this world other than music. No wife, no girlfriend, no kids, no 9-5 job you hate, my family has all just about moved away from me and it's just my dad, me and my music. I have the time to put into this where others do not. So it puts someone like me in a different place only because I have the time. You know how it goes...the more you do something, the better you get at it, right? If you and others had the time, everything changes man. Not to mention I was involved in all this music stuff playing different instruments since I was 4 years old believe it or not....started as a drummer. So it's all I know really and I'm STILL not where I want to be!
 
And hey, you're pretty knowledable yourself there buddy! You've done some really cool videos that have been useful to me and many others. I'd never think of doing vids like them because...well..umm..to be honest, my work-flow will always suck unless I learn the ways of the dark side. Hahaha! But, where I lack there, I try to make up for in the production aspect. So not all hope is lost. :) Thanks again man. :)

-Danny

Danny Danzi

Chuck: Thanks man! I'd like to hear your version of Last Dance...that's a cool tune! I hear ya on the shred stuff. Believe it or not, I swear I actually feel the same way. The good thing about growing up in the 80's for me was there was some definite skill in those players. But it got to be more of a sport than a weapon. When it starts sounding like a dude running scales like he's practicing in his room without any feel, direction and the lack of a story line, well, I can appreciate some of the techniques that go on, but to me it sounds like mindless wankage. I do that from time to time...I admit it. But I always do my best to do something with melodic value. You know... a beginning, a middle, a climax and an end type solo. If it fits the song, I'll open up a bit. If it doesn't, I won't even think about it.

The other thing that I think you did good on by avoiding that technical stuff is, you can spend a lifetime honing your chops to do the shred thing. Seriously man....it can easily become a drug once you get into it. Then what happens is, you become this robot that can play some cool leads, but you become a one-trick-pony that also may struggle to write tunes. I used to know guys that were so sick with shred that they couldn't even play rhythm or write a single riff. They would just solo over backing tracks. They'd make you go "wow" but after 10 minutes, it's like..."ok, you play lead good dude...what else can you do?" That's one thing quite a few shredders lack that you don't....the ability to write a song...and write a song with a hook that people can relate to. If I had to choose between insane tech and writing good songs, of course I'd choose to have a bit of both...but if it were one of the other, good songs would win hands down for me. Thanks again brother. :)

I completely agree, and I have met several of these guys along the way that couldn't play rythem enough to earn themselves a spot in the band.  Thanks for the props on my songwritting Danny.   Ya know it's funny.... Over this past winter I had every plan to take both guitar lessons to learn some theory to become more well rounded, and some classes with a vocal coach because I am sure there are some bad habits I have aquired.  I got so busy and spent every spare moment trying not to suck as an engineer so that the record would be sound good that I never had time to do either of them.  MAybe next year when business slows down again I will get to tackle those and check them off the list of things I really need to do.